Judge finds man incompetent to stand trial for making threats

Published October 26, 2013 at 9:45 am

Anoka County District Court Judge Nancy J. Logering ruled Oct. 14 that a man who allegedly fought with police and a canine officer after threatening to kill multiple acquaintances at a Nowthen home was not mentally competent to stand trial.

Ivan Ivanovich Revenko, 36, of Otsego will instead be civilly committed for treatment.

Revenko was arraigned May 9 on five felony charges, including two counts of second-degree assault and one count each of fourth-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm to a public safety dog and obstructing legal process.

According to the criminal complaint, authorities responded the evening of May 6 to a Nowthen home because death threats had been made by Revenko.

A woman inside the Nowthen home allegedly told police that her family knows Revenko from a distant family relationship and that he had wanted to marry her years ago. He allegedly showed up at the home May 6 and made threats to kill her, her husband and her father.

She alleged that he had a long knife and grabbed her at one point while threatening them. Her father had to run around parked cars to avoid Revenko, according to the complaint.

When officers from multiple police agencies arrived at the Nowthen home, Revenko was smoking outside. He allegedly pulled out a large knife and walked toward the officers before throwing the knife a short distance away while continuing to advance.

According to the complaint, he got into a fight with an Anoka County Sheriff’s Office deputy, to whom he gave a bloody nose, and he broke the tooth and choked a police dog named Major.

Officers shot Revenko with Taser weapons multiple times, but it appeared to have no effect. Revenko was eventually subdued and taken into custody, according to the complaint.